A termite symbiotic mushroom maximizing sexual activity at growing tips of vegetative hyphae

BACKGROUND

Termitomyces mushrooms are mutualistically associated with fungus-growing termites, which are widely considered to cultivate a monogenotypic Termitomyces symbiont within a colony. Termitomyces cultures isolated directly from termite colonies are heterokaryotic, likely through mating between compatible homokaryons.

RESULTS

After pairing homokaryons carrying different haplotypes at marker gene loci MIP and RCB from a Termitomyces fruiting body associated with Odontotermes formosanus, we observed nuclear fusion and division, which greatly resembled meiosis, during each hyphal cell division and conidial formation in the resulting heterokaryons. Surprisingly, nuclei in homokaryons also behaved similarly. To confirm if meiotic-like recombination occurred within mycelia, we constructed whole-genome sequencing libraries from mycelia of two homokaryons and a heterokaryon resulting from mating of the two homokaryons. Obtained reads were aligned to the reference genome of Termitomyces sp. J132 for haplotype reconstruction. After removal of the recombinant haplotypes shared between the heterokaryon and either homokaryons, we inferred that 5.04% of the haplotypes from the heterokaryon were the recombinants resulting from homologous recombination distributed genome-wide. With RNA transcripts of four meiosis-specific genes, including SPO11, DMC1, MSH4, and MLH1, detected from a mycelial sample by real-time quantitative PCR, the nuclear behavior in mycelia was reconfirmed meiotic-like.

CONCLUSION

Unlike other basidiomycetes where sex is largely restricted to basidia, Termitomyces maximizes sexuality at somatic stage, resulting in an ever-changing genotype composed of a myriad of coexisting heterogeneous nuclei in a heterokaryon. Somatic meiotic-like recombination may endow Termitomyces with agility to cope with termite consumption by maximized genetic variability.

Combination of chromogenic differential medium and estA-specific PCR for isolation and detection of phytopathogenic Xanthomonas spp

A xanthomonad differential medium (designated Xan-D medium) was developed, on which streaks and colonies of xanthomonads, including 13 species of the genus Xanthomonas, turned wet-shining yellow-green and were surrounded with a smaller milky zone and a bigger clear zone in 3 to 4 days. The characteristics could easily be differentiated from those of yellow nonxanthomonads and other bacteria. The mechanism of color change and formation of a milky zone on the medium are mainly due to the Tween 80 hydrolytic capacity of xanthomonads. The gene, estA, responsible for Tween 80 hydrolysis was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, which acquired a capacity to hydrolyze Tween 80 and could turn green and form a milky zone on the Xan-D medium. The nucleotide sequence of estA is highly conserved in the xanthomonads, and the sequence was used to design a specific PCR primer set. The PCR amplification using the primer set amplified a 777-bp specific DNA fragment for all xanthomonad strains tested. The Xan-D medium was used to isolate and differentiate Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris from naturally infected cabbages with black rot symptoms for a rapid diagnosis. All isolated X. campestris pv. campestris strains developed characteristic colonies and were positive in the PCR with the estA primer set. The Xan-D medium was further amended with antibiotics and successfully used for the detection of viable X. campestris pv. campestris cells from plant seeds. Although some yellow nonxanthomonads and other saprophytic bacteria from plant seeds could still grow on the medium, they did not interfere with the color development of X. campestris pv. campestris. However, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, which is closely related to xanthomonads, existing in a seed lot could also develop yellow-green color but had different colony morphology and was negative in the PCR with the estA primer set. Accordingly, the combination of the Xan-D medium with the estA-specific PCR is a useful and reliable method for the isolation and detection of viable xanthomonad cells from plant materials.